Two leading Rioja producers based in Alava have welcomed fresh details of plans tabled by the breakaway Vineyards of Alava appellation proposal including a move to distinguish itself by discarding Rioja's ageing categories of Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva.

A decision on proposed new rules that will allow Rioja producers to feature village names and specific vineyards prominently on labels may be taken as early as late October or early November this year.

Waitrose will this month launch ANDA, a new wine from Andalucía, into 77 of its stores across the UK and Waitrose Cellar online - making it the only non-fortified wine from the region available at a UK supermarket.